Golf putter construction

ABSTRACT

A golf putter for putting in a modified croquet style of putting comprising an elongated shaft having a substantially elongated grip portion at an upper end, and a putter head having a resilient striking face at a lower end. The putter head is of a predetermined weight which is counterbalanced by weighting means disposed in the upper end of the shaft to provide a weight balance point intermediate the ends of the shaft and proximate the lower extremity of the grip portion. The resilient striking face of the putter head may be formed by a slot located behind the face.

United States Patent Florian 1 1 July 25, 1972 [54] GOLF PUTTER CONSTRUCTION 3,061,310 10/1962 Giza ..273/78 [72] Inventor: Raymond J. Florian, 14440 Elwell, Bel- OR T S QR APPLICATIONS leville, Mich. 48111 20,180 4/1903 Great Britain ..273/81 R [22] Filed: g- 1970 470,178 8/1937 Great Britain... ....273/80 A [2 AppL No; 64,135 631,290 9/1927 France ..273/8l.3

Related s Application Data Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 725,387, Apr1l 30, 1968. Anomey Hamess, Dickey & pierce [52] U.S. Cl ..273/80 A, 273/81 A, 273/78 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 53/00 I [58] Field of Search ..273 77, 78, 80, s 1, 167, 169, A s p for p 3 m a m drfied croquet style of puttlng 273/171, 81.3, 81.4-81.6, 168, 172-175, 193 compnsmg an elongated shaft havmg a substantlally elongated grip portion at an upper end, and a putter head having a d resilient striking face at a lower end. The putter head is of a [56] References Cm predetermined weight which is counterbalanced by weighting UNITED S S PAT NTS means disposed in the upper end of the shaft to provide a weight balance point intermediate the ends of the shaft and 2,236,414 3/1941 Reach ..273/80 A UX proximate the lower extremity f the grip portion The 1,210,182 12/ 1916 Lynch "273/81 A resilient striking face of the putter head may be formed by a 1,673,361 6/1928 Heeter ....273/80 A Slot located b d the face 2,092,839 9/1937 Gouverneur ..273/8l.4 2,321,773 6/1943 Ruemelin ..273/81.3 X 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures POINT FOR THE CLUB x- WEIGHT BALANCE LENGTH OF THE SHAFT 40-50 INCHES PATENTEDJM I 12 3.679.207

v /5-WEIGHT f f) T '1" I l --L a Z :4? j 5 -x WEIGHT BALANCE POINT FOR i I THE CLUB (I J l v-n .1. 1 T LENGTH OF THE'fsHAFT 4O 50 INCHES WEIGHT OF THE CLUB HEAD 4-8 OZS.

GOLF PUTTER CONSTRUCTION The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 725,387, filed Apr. 30, 1968, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a new and improved golf putter.

Conventional golf putters require a sideways stance in which it is difficult for the player to maintain a true sight between the golf ball and the cup in putting. In the present invention a modified, improved golf putter is provided with a modified croquet style which can be used whereby a natural position can be maintained providing a good sight line between the golf ball and the cup.

In the present invention in order to enhance the modified croquet style, an elongated handle is provided; in addition, selected weight balance is provided between a weighted golf putter head and the handle whereby a balance point is located generally intermediate the ends and proximately at the point of grip of one hand on the club to provide for better feel or sensitivity.

Therefore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf putter.

It is another object to provide a golf putter for use in putting in a modified croquet style.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf putter having a weighted head which is balanced in an elongated handle such that the point of balance will be selected at an intermediate point along the length of the shaft.

In the present invention, the golf putter also utilizes a novel head construction; therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel golf putter having an improved head construction.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is generally a pictorial view depicting the putter of the present invention with a golfer indicated in phantom depicting the modified croquet form for use of the putter;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the golf putter of FIG. 1, taken generally along the lines 22;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the head of the putter shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 3.

Looking now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a golfer, shown in phantom, is depicted as holding the golf putter 10 of the present invention for use in a modified croquet style. The golf putter 10 comprises a shaft 12 and a head 14, with the shaft 12 being elongated and extending upwardly at an angle of approximately l relative to the vertical and terminating in a handle portion 16. The shaft 12, including the handle portion 16, is purposely elongated to permit the modified croquet style stroke as shown in FIG. I such that the golfer can putt from generally an upright position; to provide this feature the length of the shaft 12 is generally between 40 to 50 inches. This range in length would accommodate variations in height between most golfers and permit the use of the modified croquet style as shown in FIG. 1. Note that the angulation of the shaft 12 at directs the shaft 12 towards the golfer when the head 14 is located generally off to one side of the golfer. This brings the shaft 16 advantageously towards the golfer and permits him to putt without unduly contorting his body.

In order to provide for a better feel and also a better control of the putter I0, the head 14 is either made of a material which of its own nature adds substantial weight to the head 14 or is deliberately weighted. It has been found that the weight of the head 14 should be at least around four ounces. In a preferred form, the weight of the head 14 was around 8 ounces. In order to balance the weighted head I4, additional weight 15 is added at the upper end of the handle 16 (see FIG. 2). The weight 15 is selected relative to the weighted head 14 such that a balance point is attained along the shaft 12 generally midway between the head 14 and the end of the handle 16; preferably, the point of balance generally coincides with the position X at which the golfer grips the lower end of the handle portion 16 along the shaft 12. Assuming the balance point to be at the point X with the golfer gripping the club 10 as shown in FIG. I, a pivoting action can be provided in a modified croquet style resulting in better feel and improved sensitivity. The combination of the modified croquet style and balanced putter 10, results in a putter enhancing a player's putting ability.

In addition to the above, the putter 10 is provided with an improved head construction as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The weighted head I4 is provided with a striking face 20 for striking a ball 22; a slot 24, located behind the striking face 20, substantially increases the resilience of face 20; the slot 24 extends for a substantial portion of the face 20 and generally provides for a large area over which ball contact can be made with little change in putting effect; thus the slot 24 makes the striking face 20 less sensitive to variations in contact position with the ball and further enhances putting. Note that the slot 24 is open at the bottom portion and extends upwardly to a bridge portion 26. The bridge 26 provides a connection along the upper edge such that the face 20 tends to hinge about the upper edge 26. It is believed that this tends to provide on the ball 22 a desirable over spin condition.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A golf putter having an elongated shaft terminating in a substantially elongated grip at its upper end; a club head located at the lower end of said shaft, said club head being of a predetermined weight; and weighting means in the upper end of said shaft for counterbalancing the club head weight to provide a weight balance point located intermediate the ends of said shaft at a point substantially removed from both said head and said upper end of said shaft and generally midway between said head and said upper end, and at least generally proximate the lower extremity of said grip, said elongated grip extending approximately from said weight balance point to the upper end of said shaft to facilitate gripping the shaft with a first hand at said weight balance point, and with a second hand, substantially spaced from said first hand, gripping said shaft at the upper end whereby the putter can be actuated by the operator in a pendulum movement.

2. The putter of claim 1 with said head having a weight greater than around 4 ounces.

3. The putter of claim I with said head having a weight around 8 ounces.

4. The putter of claim I with said shaft being approximately 40 to 50 inches in length.

5. The putter of claim 1 with said shaft extending at an angle of around 10 with the vertical from said head.

6. The putter of claim 1 with said head having a striking face with a slot located behind said face.

7. The putter of claim 6 with said slot extending generally over the majority of the striking face and being opened only at the bottom.

8. A golf putter comprising: an elongated shaft having only a single grip portion which is substantially elongated and is disposed at an upper end of said shaft; a mallet type putter head located at the lower end of said shaft, said shaft defining an angle of approximately 10 with the vertical from said head, said head being of a predetermined weight and including a resilient striking face; and weighting means located in the upper end of said shaft for counterbalancing the club head weight, said weighting means providing a balance point intermediate the ends of said shaft at a point substantially removed from both said head and said upper end of said shaft and generally midway therebetween, said balance point further being proximate the lower extremity of said grip, said elongated grip extending approximately from said weight balance point to the upper end of said shaft to facilitate gripping the shaft with a first hand at said weight balance point, and with a second hand, substantially spaced from said first hand, gripping said shaft at the upper end whereby the putter can be actuated by the operator in a pendulum movement.

9. The putter as recited in claim 8, wherein said resilient striking face is formed by a slot located behind said face.

10. The putter as recited in claim 9, with said slot extending over the majority of said striking face and being open only at enlarged portion includes an axially extending passage for receiving said second weighted means. 

1. A golf putter having an elongated shaft terminating in a substantially elongated grip at its upper end; a club head located at the lower end of said shaft, said club head being of a predetermined weight; and weighting means in the upper end of said shaft for counterbalancing the club head weight to provide a weight balance point located intermediate the ends of said shaft at a point substantially removed from both said head and said upper end of said shaft and generally midway between said head and said upper end, and at least generally proximate the lower extremity of said grip, said elongated grip extending approximately from said weight balance point to the upper end of said shaft to facilitate gripping the shaft with a first hand at said weight balance point, and with a second hand, substantially spaced from saId first hand, gripping said shaft at the upper end whereby the putter can be actuated by the operator in a pendulum movement.
 2. The putter of claim 1 with said head having a weight greater than around 4 ounces.
 3. The putter of claim 1 with said head having a weight around 8 ounces.
 4. The putter of claim 1 with said shaft being approximately 40 to 50 inches in length.
 5. The putter of claim 1 with said shaft extending at an angle of around 10* with the vertical from said head.
 6. The putter of claim 1 with said head having a striking face with a slot located behind said face.
 7. The putter of claim 6 with said slot extending generally over the majority of the striking face and being opened only at the bottom.
 8. A golf putter comprising: an elongated shaft having only a single grip portion which is substantially elongated and is disposed at an upper end of said shaft; a mallet type putter head located at the lower end of said shaft, said shaft defining an angle of approximately 10* with the vertical from said head, said head being of a predetermined weight and including a resilient striking face; and weighting means located in the upper end of said shaft for counterbalancing the club head weight, said weighting means providing a balance point intermediate the ends of said shaft at a point substantially removed from both said head and said upper end of said shaft and generally midway therebetween, said balance point further being proximate the lower extremity of said grip, said elongated grip extending approximately from said weight balance point to the upper end of said shaft to facilitate gripping the shaft with a first hand at said weight balance point, and with a second hand, substantially spaced from said first hand, gripping said shaft at the upper end whereby the putter can be actuated by the operator in a pendulum movement.
 9. The putter as recited in claim 8, wherein said resilient striking face is formed by a slot located behind said face.
 10. The putter as recited in claim 9, with said slot extending over the majority of said striking face and being open only at the bottom, and wherein said head has a weight of around 8 ounces.
 11. The putter as recited in claim 8, wherein said grip portion includes a radially enlarged portion located at an upper end for gripping by said second hand.
 12. The putter as recited in claim 11, wherein said radially enlarged portion includes an axially extending passage for receiving said second weighted means. 